Washing machine



Dec. 14 9 1926". 1,610,894

D. A. SMELSER WASHING MACHINE Filed April 10,, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Dec. 14 1926. 1,610,894

D. A. SMELSER WASHING MACHINE Filed April 10. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented Dec. 14, 1926.

UNITED STATES DAVID A. SMELSER, OF BRISTOL, VIRGINIA.

WASHING MACHINE.

Application filed April 10. 1926. Serial No. 101,129.

This invention relates to certain improvements in washing machines andit is an object of the invention to provide a device of this kindcomprising a hollow rotor revolubly mounted within a casing or tub andwherein the rotor is provided with lnwardly disposed and reverselydirected rubbmg members orribs operating during the rotation of therotor to cause the articles therein to be moved or thrown from end toend of the rotor and thereby materially facilitate the cleansinoperation.

Another ject of the invention is to provide a device of this kindcomprising a rotating hollow rotor or drum provided with inwardlydisposed and substantially reversely directed spiral working members orribs and wherein each of said ribs has disposed therethrough a pluralityof openings for the passage of the cleanlng fluid to further facilitatean effective cleansing of the articles Within the rotor or drum.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a machine of thiskind comprising a rotating hollow rotor or drum provided adjacent itsopposite ends with reversely directed spiral ribs or working members,the substantially opposed faces of said ribs or members being grooved orotherwise roughened to assure effective working surfaces.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in thecombination and an rangement of the several parts of my 1mproved washingmachine whereby certain important advantages are attained and the devicerendered slmpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient andadvanta-' geous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitelyclaimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will nowproceed to describe the same with reference to the accom panyingdrawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view in vertical section taken through amachine constructed in accord ance with an embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a development of the hollow rotor'or drum showing therelative arrangegient of the internal ribs or working memers;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 ofFigure 1;

Figure 4. is a horizontal sectional View taken through the hollow rotoror drum as herein disclosed, the supporting trunnions therefor beingshown in top plan;

Figure is a View in elevation of one of the supporting bearings for thehollow rotor or drum;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of one of the workingmembers or ribs as herein employed.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings C denotesa casing or drumformed in any desired manner and of preferred configuration having 'itslower or bottom portion substantially semi-circular in cross section andhaving secured to the opposed faces of its end walls 1 the alignedbearings 2. Each of these bearings 2 comprises a barrel or having itsupper portion open, as at 3), whereby a trunnion 3 carried by an endwall or head 4 of the hollow rotor or drum D may be readily receivedtherein.

The peripheral wall 5 of the member or drum D is provided with theopenings 6 so that the fluid within the casing or tub C may have readyaccess within the rotor or drum D. A portion of the peripheral wall 5 ofthe member or drum 1) is open, as at- 7, to permit clothing or kindredarticles to be cleansed to be readily placed within the member or drumD, said opening 7 being adapted to be closed by the removable door orcover 8.

An end wall 1 of the casing or tub C is provided with an outstandingtubular hearing 9 the bore of whichaligning with a trunnion 3 Within theadjacent bearing 2, such trunnion having an axial recess 10 angular incross section to substantially snugly receive an angular end portion 11of an operatingmember 12, said operating member 12 being disposedthrough and rotatably held by the bearing 9. The adjacent end Wall 1 ofthe member or tub C is provided with an opening 14 through which themember 12 also extends. The outer end of the member 12- has operativelyengaged therewith a crank 15 whereby the member or drum D may be readilyrotated as desired. This crank 15 provides means for manually rotatingthe member or drum D but it is to be understood that other means may beemployed in connection with the member 12 whereby said drum or member Dcan be power driven.

In addition to providing means for rotating the member or drum D, it isto be noted that the operating member 12 coacts with a trunnion 3of'said member or drum to effectively hold or look the drum or member Din applied position within the casing or tub C. When it is desired toremove the member or drum D from within the casing or tub C, it is onlynecessary that the member-12 be pulled outwardly sufficient to free theangular portion 11 thereof from within the recess 10.

Carried by the peripheral wall of the member or drum D is a pair ofinwardly disposed ribs or working members R, said members being spirallyarranged around said peripheral wall in reversed directions, with onespiral at one end of the drum and the second spiral at the opposite endof the drum.

As diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 2 of the accompanyingdrawings, it is to be noted that the inner end of one of the ribs Rterminates at a point slightly inward of the outer end of the second ribbut spaced therefrom and that the opposite ends of said ribs or membersterminate at points immediately adjacent to the opening 7. The inner endof the second member or rib R terminates at a predetermined point spacedfrom a side wall 4 of the member or drum D.

Two adjacent faces of a rib R are provided thereacross with the grooves16, each roove in one face of a rib being continued y a groove in theadjacent face and each of said grooves is gradually increased in widthtoward the meeting edge between such faces. These rooves provideeffective rubbing surfaces whereby the cleansing operation of themachine is materially facilitated.

It is also to be noted that each of the ribs or members R has disposedlaterally therethrough the openings 17 each in communication with agroove in an opposed face of the rib or member B, said opening beingtapered with its larger end at the opposite face of the rib.Furthermore, as particularly illustrated in Figures 3 and 5, theadjacent openings 17 are in staggered relation. These openings 17 permitthe cleaning fluid Within the member or drum D to readily flow throughthe ribs to further facilitate the action of the machine upon thearticles being operated upon.

In practice, a suitable saponified liquid or its equivalent is placedwithin the casing or tub C and admitted within the member or drum D.After the articles to be cleaned have been properly placed within themember or drum D and the cover or lid 8 applied, said member or drum Dis rotated and during this action the reverse relation of the workingmembers or ribs R will cause said articles to be intermittently thrownfirst toward one end of the member or drum D and then toward theotherwith by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may beassembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention issusceptible of some change and modification without departing from theprinciples and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to beunderstood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formationof the several parts herein shown in carrying, out my invention inpractice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim 1. A washing machine comprising, a hollow rotor to receive thearticles to be cleaned, and spiral ribs carried by the opposite endportions of the peripheral wall of the rotor and inwardly directed withrespect to the ends of the rotor, one of said ribs being substantiallyreversed with respect to the other, the inner end portion of one of saidribs extending inwardly of the outer end portion of the second rib andspaced therefrom.

2. A washing machine comprising, a hollow rotor to receive the articlesto be cleaned, and spiral ribs carried by the opposite end portions ofthe peripheral wall of the rotor and inwardly directed with respect tothe ends of the rotor, one of said ribs being substantially reversedwith respect to the other, two adjacent faces of each of the ribs havinggrooves thereacross.

3. A washing machine comprising, a hollow rotor to receive the articlesto be cleaned, and spiral ribs carried by the opposite end portions ofthe peripheral wall of the rotor and inwardly directed with respect tothe ends of the rotor, one of said ribs being substantially reversedwith respect to the other, two adjacent faces of each of the ribs havinggrooves thereacross, said grooves increasing in width toward the meetingedge between such faces.

4. A washing machine comprising, a hollow rotor to receive the articlesto be cleaned.v and spiral ribs carried by the opposite end portions ofthe peripheral wall of the rotor and inwardly directed with respect tothe ends of the rotor, one of said ribs being substantially reversedwith respect to the other, two adjacent faces of each of the ribs havinggrooves thereacross, each of said ribs having openings disposedtransversely therethrou h.

5, washing machine comprising, a hol low rotor to receive the articlesto be cleaned, and spiral ribs carried by the opposite end portions ofthe peripheral wall of the rotor and inwardly directed with respect tothe ends of the rotor, one of said ribs being substantially reversedwith respect to the other, two adjacent faces of each of the ribs havinggrooves thereacross, each of said ribs having openings disposedtransversely therethrough, each of said openings communieating with agroove in the rib.

6. A washing machine comprising, a 1101- low rotor to receive thearticles to be cleaned, and spiral ribs carried by the opposite endportions of the peripheral wall of the rotor and inwardly directed withrespect to the ends of the rotor, one of said ribs beingsubstantially'reversed with respect to the other, two adjacent faces ofeach of the ribs having 20 grooves t-hereacross, each of-said ribshaving openings disposed transversely therethrough, said openings beingin staggered relation.

' 7. A washing machine comprising, a hollow rotor to receive thearticles to be cleaned. and spiral ribs carried by the opposite enportions of the peripheral wall of the rotor and inwardly directed withrespect to the ends of the rotor, one of said ribs being substantiallyreversed with respect to the other, two adjacent faces of each of theribs having grooves thereacross, each of said ribs having openingsdisposed transversely therethrough, each of said openings being taperedoutwardly with its larger end remote from 35 the face having thegrooves.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

, DAVID A. SMELSEB.

